Changes in the CCNP exam

The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) exam is used to gauge a network professional’s ability to architect, implement, operate and troubleshoot LANs and WANs in enterprise environments. It also justiifes their ability to work collaboratively with specialists on advanced security, voice, wireless and video solutions.

This article will review the CCNP certification and outline some of the recent changes announced from Cisco regarding updates to the exam structure.

Overview of the CCNP Prerequisites

The CCNP certification as outlined above is designed for candidates with at least one year of networking experience. Examinees that pass the CCNP exam will have proven that they possess the demonstrated skills required in enterprise roles such as network technician, support engineer, systems engineer, network engineer and network administrator.

Prerequisites for candidates that wish to take the CCNP exam include the Cisco Certified Network Associate – Routing & Switching Certification (CCNA).

The CCNA can be obtained by taking the single 640-802 CCNA EXAM which runs about 90 minutes in timed length and covers 45 to 55 questions or you might opt to take the separate 640-822 ICND1

There is one additional exam 642-832 TSHOOT Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks that is expected to be available April 30, 2010.

642-832 TSHOOT Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks

Exam Number: 642-832

Associated Certifications: CCNP

Duration: 120 minutes (53 questions)

Available Languages: English

There is a beta exam that candidates can register and take. 643-832 TSHOOT Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks is expected to be available from February 16 through March 26, 2010.

Cisco is planning to provide the TSHOOT beta exam free of charge to the first 150 candidates who complete it. (The promo code for the offer is TSBETA). Once the free offer is exhausted the beta exams will be available at $50.00 (USD).

Candidates that pass the 643-832 beta will be able to count it towards their certification in the same way that fully released exams do.

[NOTES FROM THE FIELD] – Scores for the 643-832 TSHOOT Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks exams are not rendered at the end of the exam at test time.

The scores are sent to the candidates after the formal exam 642-832 TSHOOT Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks releases which is expected on April 30, 2010

In this article we reviewed the CCNP Prerequisites as well as the current requirements for the CCNP

We wrapped up with the new exams that are planned for release this spring.

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About the Contributor

Jason Zandri is a Senior Technical Account Manager at Microsoft Corporation. He has worked as a technical trainer and consultant for a variety of corporate clients in Connecticut over the past ten years. He also has written a number of CompTIA and Microsoft prep tests for Boson Software as well as a number of published articles for 2000trainers.com, MCMCSE.com, Serverwatch.com and Certification Magazine. His professional CompTIA certifications include: A+ Certified Technician, I-Net+ Certified Technician, Server+ Certified Technician, Network+ Certified Technician, and Security+ Certified Professional. His professional Microsoft certifications include: MCT, MCP, MCP+I, MCSA, MCSA: Security, and MCSE.